A smart alternative to calling fire brigade

If you've spent any time watching Fireman Sam, you'll be aware of the
damage that fire, and the water used to fight it, can do to property.

By Richard Tyler

8:18PM BST 19 Sep 2009

Poor old Dilys Price and Bella Lasagne find themselves singed and then soaked in virtually every episode of the long-running children's TV programme.

It seems that the tools used to fight domestic fires have changed little since the show first aired in 1985. Fire alarms have become more sophisticated but buckets, hoses and hand-held extinguishers are still the favoured ways to put the blazes out.

Enter stage left Royal College of Art graduates Yusuf Muhammad, 26, and Paul Thomas, 37. As part of their degree, they had to think of ways that product design could improve Mrs Lasagne's chances of survival. They focused on the kitchen after discovering that 60pc of domestic fires begin there and the main culprit is the cooker. As you can't squirt water at chip-pan fires, the pair turned to water mist, which suffocates even the most oily of blazes.

They needed an existing water source, and Thomas says that after a series of different concepts taking in radiators, the cooker extractor-hood and ceiling- mounted devices, they settled on the taps on the sink.

But to really design the right product, they needed to fully understand the materials that they were working with. Muhammad found that there were such things as water-mist conferences as well as a trade association. "We were constantly calling them up, asking them questions," he said. They also went along to the Building Research Establishment in Watford to do some testing on their initial prototypes.

Muhammad said: "There's no set standard for this technology in the kitchen as it's so new. We had to test its performance in tackling fires." Further independent tests at a fire college showed they were on the right lines.

But the design was crucial. "We spoke to people in their homes and they wanted something hidden away. They did not want to be constantly reminded of fire," said Muhammad.

So they created a pump and heat-detection system that can be installed under the sink, with the water mist jets sitting above in a mount that fits into the base of standard taps. Unlike smoke alarms that detect smoke, the Automist – as the pair have named their device – has an intelligent heat sensor to make sure the jets do not come on when you burn the toast.

The duo are now working to turn the Automist from a concept in their degree portfolio to a real product that they can sell. Winning the Imperial College business challenge gave them funds to develop their idea and apply for patents. It also gave them working space at the Design London business incubator. Thomas's previous experience working in product design for Nokia also gives them an edge, as does the arrival of two Imperial College MBA graduates to the team.

"Me and Paul are not really business-minded," admitted Muhammad. "So having some people who are, who know about sales and profits, is really good."

The icing on the cake is their recent success in the annual Sir James Dyson design competition, beating over 400 other design ideas from around the world to win the £10,000 prize.

Sir James has a canny eye for new product designs that improve everyday items, from vacuum cleaners to washing machines and washroom hand-dryers.

So his endorsement (and the cash) is a significant plus for the Automist, but Thomas and Muhammad's venture – the company is registered as Plumis – will need some further funds to bring the prototype to market. "We are hoping to get the initial products out by the middle of next year," said Thomas.

Will they knock on Sir James's door again for investment? They'd be mad not too. Even if he turns them down, I know at least two people in a little village called Pontypandy who are desperate to find an alternative to calling in the fire brigade.